Kelly still gets blamed for Twins' spray-hitting ways

Boston slugger David Ortiz has propagated that belief by saying former manager Tom Kelly wanted him to hit like a "little girl" during the Big O's six on-and-off seasons (1997-2002) with the Twins.

Last update: May 26, 2008 - 9:06 PM

Print this story

Tom Kelly managed a World Series-winning team in 1987 that hit 196 home runs, with four players hitting 28 or more home runs. This robust home run production came before what's considered to be baseball's steroids era (1993-2005).

Kelly has been gone from the Twins dugout for seven seasons. Yet, he still gets blamed for being the man behind an approach that causes the Twins to emphasize hitting to all fields at the cost of power potential.

Boston slugger David Ortiz has propagated that belief by saying Kelly wanted him to hit like a "little girl" during the Big O's six on-and-off seasons (1997-2002) with the Twins.

"We tried to get our hitters to learn to drive the outside pitch the other way," Kelly said Monday. "To see a big, strong man such as David turn and put a swing on an inside pitch, we always enjoyed that, too.

"We got a bad break with David when he suffered that hamate bone injury [in 1998]. He was a young hitter, but he was driving some balls a long way. Very impressive.

"Then, he went to Boston and started doing that again. He's turned himself into quite a hitter. He deserves a lot of credit."

It was mentioned to Kelly that Ortiz seems to get a fair percentage of his clutch hits by driving the ball to the opposite field.

"I've noticed that," Kelly said. "And he's never called to thank me."

PATRICK REUSSE

Recent Twins stories

Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon wants to come back, but will explore other options - May 26, 2008

Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon wants to come back, but will explore other options - Johnny Damon soaked it all in as he shared a float with first-timers Nick Swisher and Jerry Hairston Jr. for the New York Yankees' championship parade through the Canyon of Heroes on Friday. The whole scene made him a little wistful. More